As expected, cycling legend Lance Armstrong on Friday was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life from the sport for his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Although he continues to profess his innocence, Armstrong announced Thursday that he would no longer fight the charges. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said in a release Friday that Armstrong's decision to pass on arbitration requires an automatic lifetime ban and forfeiture of all results from Aug. 1, 1998. Armstrong won the Tour de France from 1999 through 2005.

Numerous witnesses provided evidence to USADA based on personal knowledge acquired, either through direct observation of doping activity by Armstrong, or through Armstrong’s admissions of doping to them that Armstrong used EPO, blood transfusions, testosterone and cortisone...

Manager Bobby Valentine has become a lightning rod for criticism since before the season even started. Kurkjian, who noted that he's biased in Valentine's favor because he worked with him for a number of years at ESPN, acknowledged that Valentine might not be back for a second season.

"I thought it was a really good hire when it happened, but the more I look at it, the more I think I'm not sure he ever had a fighting chance, with all the injuries, the coaching staff, a young general manager working with him for the first time. I always thought Bobby would be back next year, that this just wasn't a fair fight and he deserves another year to take a look at this. And the more I watch this team, the more I wonder if he's even going to get a second year, which I thought was inconceivable a few months...

Roger Clemens is flirting with a comeback to MLB. He wants to postpone his Hall of Fame eligibility in order to create more time for his legacy to settle after the ignominious PED accusations made by his former trainer Brian McNamee. Everyone knows this. And it didn't take a great deal of reading in between the lines to figure it out. So, why is Clemens being so coy?

Via Don Burke of the New York Post:

“I think anything is possible if you have the mindset and the will and desire to do it and put the time in,” Clemens said. “I wish I could worry about that and look that far ahead.

“It’s a lot of work to get back to where I was five years ago. ... We have some fun things planned. Maybe another surprise or two. We’ll wait and see what happens after Saturday.’’

The hope, from the perspective of Clemens and his supporters, appears to be that voters might have a different...

Vernon Wells acknowledged after the Angels' 14-13 win in 10 innings that his key one-out ninth-inning homer off Alfredo Aceves wouldn't have counted had the Red Sox and manager Bobby Valentine challenged through instant replay. Valentine didn't challenge the home run that started a three-run rally that turned the Angels' two-run deficit into a one-run lead before Cody Ross homered in the bottom of the ninth.

"I didn't see anybody thinking it was not a home run," Valentine said. "There wasn't anybody on the field that didn't think it was a home run, did they? That's the first I even heard of that. No one even came back with the replay. How does it bounce straight up like that if it's not a home run?"

Told that the ball hit the lip and remained in play, Valentine took a drink of water and shook his head in frustration.

Said Wells: "When I hit it, I was just thinking it hit off the wall. Then I saw the way...

After his team's 14-13 loss to the Angels, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine talked about his decision to bring back Alredo Aceves for the 10th inning after the Sox closer had surrendered three runs while throwing 33 pitches in the ninth.

"It was basically the same thing [Angels manager Mike] Scioscia did," Valentine said. "He's a closer, he gives up a lead. Two left-handers in the bullpen and they had a right-handed lineup. Had three innings left, I didn't want to squeeze another inning out. It obviously was the wrong decision."

After the Red Sox had sent the game into extra innings courtesy a solo home run by Cody Ross in the home half of the ninth, Aceves lasted just four pitches in the 10th. The righty surrendered a leadoff home run to Kendrys Morales before Erick Aybar singled to right field.

Aceves, who was replaced by Craig Breslow, said the problem was a simple as missed fastball location.

Butch Stearns joins Glenn and Fred to react to the Patriots victory over the Rams. They discuss Tom Brady's record setting 201st quarterback victory and debate if he is truly the greatest player of all time.

WEEI.com's Mike Petraglia and Ben Kichen of the 'Dale and Holley Show' talk about what the Celtics will need to do in order to be considered one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference along with the Cavs.

The first hour of Saturday Skate starts up against the third period of Bruins - Sabres, so Ken Laird and Rear Admiral give some Red Sox hot stove and Rob Gronkowski thoughts before moving into Bruins - Sabres game reaction

Glenn, Lou, and Christian are starting to think that the Ravens are the Pats biggest Rival. They cite the frequency with which they play, the importance of their games, the fact that the Ravens have won in Foxborough, and that they always play close games.

Glenn, Lou, and Christian react to John Tomase's comments on "The Hot Stove Show" last night, where he bagged on Dave Dombrowski fro decimating the Red Sox Farm System. Lou feels very strongly that Prospects exist to get big time Players. He also feels that the Red Sox are already the Chicago Cubs. Glenn rails against Tomase and other "Prospect Hoarders." Christian talks about "Beanie Babies."

Glenn, Lou, and Christian discuss Pablo Sandoval's conversation with ESPN Deportes, where he talks about a renewed interest in Baseball, getting healthy, and wanting his son to be able to see him play at a high level.

Kirk Minihane and Rich Keefe sit down to talk about what its like to join an already established show, how his start with the station has been received, and Kirk tries to get Rich to dish on his relationships with his former co-workers. For you listeners who think they may want to get into radio, Kirk gives Rich advice that could pertain to you as well.

Kirk Minihane, WEEI Podcast King, talks to the Podcast Godfather Adam Carolla about his new documentary about Le Mans, the backlash from the Election, and his time with Donald Trump on the Apprentice. The audio quality isn't great but the conversation is.

Kirk Minihane is a non-believer, Larry Johnson is a preacher, when Larry found Kirk doesn't believe in God he challenged Kirk to allow him on to the podcast to talk about religion and faith. Kirk and Larry have a tremendous conversation about God and Larry tries to convert Kirk into a believer.

Kirk Minihane and Rich Keefe sit down to talk about what its like to join an already established show, how his start with the station has been received, and Kirk tries to get Rich to dish on his relationships with his former co-workers. For you listeners who think they may want to get into radio, Kirk gives Rich advice that could pertain to you as well.

Episode 2 of the official podcast of Kirk & Callahan, as Kirk and Gerry acknowledge their first real on-air fight on that morning's show. The guys also discuss newbie Rich Keefe, Gary Tanguay, and Larry Bird's 60th birthday

Kirk Minihane and Rich Keefe sit down to talk about what its like to join an already established show, how his start with the station has been received, and Kirk tries to get Rich to dish on his relationships with his former co-workers. For you listeners who think they may want to get into radio, Kirk gives Rich advice that could pertain to you as well.

Episode 2 of the official podcast of Kirk & Callahan, as Kirk and Gerry acknowledge their first real on-air fight on that morning's show. The guys also discuss newbie Rich Keefe, Gary Tanguay, and Larry Bird's 60th birthday